Weekly News Roundup 7/14/14

Once again I find myself at the end of another very full summer week. After such a long, dark, cold winter I think it is safe to say that us Maineacs are universally thrilled with the recent bounty of sunlight and warmth. Despite the fantastic weather, I still can’t figure out how to grow vegetables and my garden looks like an anemic insect haven. I will keep trying, but in the meantime I want to express my gratitude to all the amazingly talented farmers on the Blue Hill Peninsula. How, oh how do you coax so much green out of glacial till and granite bedrock?

I wish this could explain my dismal sprint triathlon time this past weekend. Alas, I think that had more to do with my lack of sleep the night before. Just in case you think my life is a rosey L.L. Bean cover shot, let me reassure you, I too am wrecked after a night of camping out and tending to a puking daughter while fending off a billion blood thirsty buzzing friends. The effect of sleep on recovery and performance is well established, not just for athletes but for all of us. This New York Times post reveals how sleep helps your daily performance and this Atlantic article shows how adding more time sleeping might be more effective than adding more time training.

No amount of hard work or sleep will allow me to run like Kilian Jornet, the winner of this year’s Hardrock 100 in Colorado’s San Jaun Mountains. And that’s ok. Instead I get to revel in the humility and awe of watching a fellow human do something I never will. This video shows how even the most talented runners look mortal as they follow Kilian the mountain-goat-god down a steep pass.

Speaking of being inspired to move, I admire this doctor’s bold approach of prescribing personalized outside walking routines. Individuals are sent outside to reclaim their health and communities start to reclaim their parks.

Yogaworld

What is modern yoga exactly? Carol Horton breaks down the recent Paradigm Shift in her excellent blog post.

The second Maine Yoga Fest happened this weekend in Portland’s East End. It was full of happy, relaxed yogis enjoying each other’s good company and enthusiasm. I enjoyed presenting my class on how to prevent common injuries in yogis and athletes and I’ll be putting together on this important topic soon.

Nourish Yourself

The wild roses have a way of blooming just as the heat of summer intensifies. My 8 year old daughter plucks the petals right off the bush to eat them whole while I prefer drenching a small jar of petals in raw honey to use in my mint water. The sweet, moist, cooling fragrance of rose petals helps balance the hot, dry fire of summer.

Rose oil is also great for all kinds of things, from soothing puffy summer eyes and ocean-water filled ears, to softening the soles of our summer-hardened feet. I make about half my rose oil with coconut oil (it is more cooling and appropriate for summer use) and half with olive oil (more neutral smelling and more nourishing for facial skin).

My friend Stacie Jacques recently wrote these instructions on how make your own Rose Oil. You can find out more about Stacie and her work at her Flowersong Herbs facebook page.

Make some now to use next season . . .

How to make rose oil

1) find amazing, vibrant beach roses – on a dry, sunny day ~ mid afternoon is the best time to gather – the petals will be thoroughly dry

2) breathe in outrageous fragrance and feel the gratitude!

3) have clean dry jars or a dry paper bag

4) fill the jars loosely to the top with rose petals

5) if you only have a bag ~ harvest petals and when you get home you can transfer to jars

6) place jars on a flat surface, slowly pour olive oil over the petals, filling in all the spaces

7) fill to nearly the top, stop and use a chopstick or butter knife to wiggle the petals all around to release air pockets trapped… when there are no more air bubbles

8) continue pouring oil to the top~ making sure all plant material is under the oil!! cap loosely

9) store in a cool, dark spot – check every few days at first to ensure that all plant material stays under the surface of the oil and that you don’t have any mold starting to grow.

10) you may need to add a small amount of oil to keep the jar topped off as the oil can tend to ooze out from the top a bit ( sometimes)

11) if there is any mold – scoop it up along with plant material all around it – compost and add fresh oil to the top again…

2 Comments on “Weekly News Roundup 7/14/14”

You are such a phenomenal writer~~witty, informative, entertaining and totally interesting … love your blogs Charlotte – thanks for writing them and providing a bounty of love and resources!! Keep going my friend – we need you and your fabulous work!!
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